SALISBURY - At this Monday's regular legislative session of the Salisbury City Council, the council will consider an amendment to sections of the city charter to grant the council appointment and oversight authority over the city attorney and other legal counsel. The October 10 meeting at 6 p.m. is an open session with time available for public comment on the issue and will take place in Room 301, Council Chambers, of the Government Office Building at 125 N. Division St.
"The two offices key to the council successfully fulfilling its state- and city charter-mandated duties are the city clerk and the city attorney. Therefore, having timely and full access to both is critical for the council to not have its legislative work hindered," she added.
The city clerk also is appointed by and serves.at the pleasure of the city council only. If the proposed charter amendment passes, all departments heads except the city clerk and the city attorney would continue under the mayor's supervision, and the mayor would still access the city attorney for the administrative needs of the city government as allowed by various sections of the charter.
The city council is the legislative body ofthe city government vested with policy- and lawmaking powers, while the mayor serves as head of the administrative, or executive, branch.
The State of Maryland mandates that only the legislative body (by simple majority) or the voters (by petition and referendum) may change the charter of a municipality.
When asked ifthis would be seen as some sort of power play on the council's part, Cohen replied, "Although it is likely a lot of political hay will be made and the council is not unanimous on moving this initiative forward, a majority of the council recognizes the problems the city has experienced, where supposed checks and balances have failed. This is not a drastic change, as has been done in other cities, but it is an important and necessary one."
The proposed charter amendment will be available to the public in advance of Monday's meeting, published in the council's briefing book on the city's website under the "Government/City Council/Agendas" link, posted in the lobby of the government office building, and from the city clerk's office, 410-548-3140.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
13 comments:
Why is the time on this post 7:25 when it is only 5:18?
I don't have a problem with the Charter Amendment.
They also need to consider Making the Mayor's position full time with a full time salary.
AM?
Does this amendment help get a new city attorney...I'll vote for that.
6:38 --
Ditto that.
Is Wilber's gravy train about to leave the tracks?
When Jim-Beau was running for mayor he said that he would see that happened as soon as he was elected. It will be bizarre if he blasts Debbie and Terry on this.
Word on the street is the mayor and Mitchell are already blasting Debbie and Terry on this.
Most informative and straightforward press release I've ever seen the city do. I hope the girls pull it off. Long overdue.
More power for the Camden Club.
Salisbury slides farther down the tube.
Time to move.
The anti-Camden brigade weighs in. I don't live in Camden and I voted for all three of that "club" because they aren't a club like the Barrie-Gary-Shanie cool kids table. This council's majority thinks about the whole city and doesn't try to buy votes one neighborhood at a time.
Saw the Daily Slime article this morning. What a joke. Glad to see someone in Salisbury finally has the gumption to do something about what's wrong with this city!
Amen
I do live in Camden and I did vote for all three. I'm beginning to regret it.
I live in Camden and view the whole city as home. I voted for all three and will do the same again if they seek reelection. They are smart and time after time base their decisions on what's best for the city. Noon, let's hear what you have to offer and see if you have the courage to run for office and take the kind of heat that comes with anything that changes the status quo. Great press release.
10:20 ---
Mitchell is a Lynn Cathcart act-alike.
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